Thinking About Buying Orchestral Tools' Berlin Series? Here's What You Should Know.

►► Download My Sample Library Buyer's Guide For Free: www.christophersiu.com/best-c...
Hey friends! In today's video, let's break down Orchestral Tools' Berlin Series collections, what you should know about them, and how I personally use them in my own work. Enjoy!
0:00 Intro
0:45 Berlin Strings
12:20 Berlin Woodwinds
17:02 Berlin Brass
22:35 Berlin Percussion
31:58 Conclusions
► Looking to start, build, and scale your online business to earn passive income? Check out Podia for free! cutt.ly/FgA2XkU
► Join my new Discord community! / discord
► Looking for an in-depth orchestral mixing course that will take your productions to the next level? Check out Joël Dollié's course here: cutt.ly/ZyMFqv0
► Evenant has some wonderful material on music production, composition, and design: cutt.ly/seXO7rH
For business/music inquiries, contact me @ www.christophersiu.com
Support me on Patreon: / christophersiu
SOCIALS:
Facebook: goo.gl/g5jwen
Twitter: goo.gl/bhrsrz
Instagram: goo.gl/BgBaZK
A big thank you to my Patreon supporters:
KouaMusic ($10)
William Hoshal ($10)
Justin Robbins ($5)
Jim Lane ($5)
Gerald Williams ($5)
Nicholas Potaris ($5)
Maaz Asif ($1)
Ethan Toavs ($1)
Jon Nelson ($1)
Timmy Ha ($1)
Alex Pfeffer ($1)

[@ChristopherSiu]

Thanks for checking out my thoughts on the Berlin Series! Want some more recommendations? Download my Sample Library Buyer's Guide For Free: cutt.ly/AdlWvBa

[@muhammadrocco5709]

I know im asking randomly but does anybody know of a tool to get back into an instagram account? I was stupid lost my account password. I appreciate any assistance you can give me

[@judsonmiles3604]

@Muhammad Rocco instablaster :)

[@muhammadrocco5709]

@Judson Miles thanks so much for your reply. I got to the site thru google and Im waiting for the hacking stuff now. Takes quite some time so I will reply here later with my results.

[@thisislance]

Thanks for putting this together! I picked up BWW yesterday in part due to one of your prior videos. The flutes and oboe are working great in a mix that I was struggling with a few weeks ago.

[@ChristopherSiu]

You're welcome! Glad you're enjoying BWW :D

[@mithramusic5909]

Thanks for this. This crazy helpful, detailed, and insightful review helped me decide to get these libraries and a year later, I don't regret it.

[@ChristopherSiu]

Glad it was helpful!

[@BluemountScore]

Thank you for the overview, Chris!

[@ChristopherSiu]

My pleasure!

[@maxalaintwo3578]

Once I get my financial aid recompense, I'll definitely be looking into these libraries

[@ChristopherSiu]

Good luck!

[@c-m-laurin-lenschow]

Great video Chris! I will definitely buy BWW on Friday :D

[@ChristopherSiu]

You're so welcome!

[@tickscollector9029]

Hey Chris, thanks for doing this, really appreciated. What I missed, and what many that showcase or review or demo miss, is to expose the mics... the room. It's weird, but we buy these libs sometimes mainly because of the room, and yet most demos use just a baked mix or the tree mic for everything... even the developers do that :-/ You added a close mic at one point to show how to add some definition, but that doesn't count :-) Doing this with one instrument is enough, say like a cello section longs or a whole strings instrument, and then simply showcasing each mic isolated, one by one. That way everything is exposed, whether the close mic is too wet, or if a spot mic has nasty overtones or if the OR for some reason sounds better then the holy tree etc etc Food for thought. Cheers from vi-c.

[@ChristopherSiu]

Appreciate the feedback, noted! :) I'll tell you this, I'd never use the close/spot mics on their own. The definitely need some of the AB/tree/ORTF for the stereo width and sound of the hall. Those are the true calling cards.

[@tickscollector9029]

@@ChristopherSiu I agree 110%, but to know if they are of any use, well, you need to hear them first :-) Like with SSS, you can add the close mic as much as you won't but you will never get definition from this lib. With CSS, some of the close mics are ringy and the room mics are sometimes too boxy. Anyway I'm sure you know exactly what I meant :-)

[@ChristopherSiu]

Absolutely! Will definitely show them more next time, thanks again!

[@florentvolgringer9845]

Hi Chris ! Thanks again for this review, very useful to compare the libraries. I was wondering, how do you manage the re-bow for the strings to repeat the same note ? I personally use Cinematic Studio Strings, but sometimes even when you use the sustain pedal like they explain in the manual, it's to light to me, you barely hear the rebow... Thanks !

[@ChristopherSiu]

Hey Florent! I’ve had a similar issue as well, but I usually end up dialing down the velocity on the repeated note to eliminate a hard attack, unless that’s the sound I’m going for. If that’s a little too synthetic, I’ll double it with CSS for a fuller and slightly more randomized sound.

[@artemi-music]

thanks for the video Chris

[@ChristopherSiu]

My pleasure!

[@seok84]

Will you be reviewing the new berlin symphonic strings? :) I would like to get them before the intro sale ends but would like to know what you think about them before ^^

[@ChristopherSiu]

You bet! Coming Monday.

[@felipemorenomusic]

Hi Christopher! Would you like to do a video of the new Berlin Orchestra? I think that they solved the brass dynamics problems! Also I am wondering if they recorded bass clarinet en contrabassoon again!

[@ChristopherSiu]

Hi Phil, potentially!

[@michaelhollman9470]

As you were playing the Fr. Horn samples, I kept wondering if Stephan and Sarah had performed the samples! (Did they???)

[@ChristopherSiu]

Haha!

[@tosvus]

I was considering them but literally the first thing you played sounds very "synthy" to my ears? I'm sure with lots of expression etc it can be corrected, but is there any libraries you recommend for ease of playability?

[@ChristopherSiu]

Sure! You might enjoy the cinematic studio stuff more.

[@helenlynch3333]

Christopher, thanks so much for this review!!! Can I ask what that ‘Noir’ library is please? Just bought an 8Dio brass deal and they threw in strings. 6 libraries for $298. Slowly upgrading my film orchestra from EW libraries so Berlin WW is going into my basket now.

[@ChristopherSiu]

You’re welcome Helen! Noir is from Sonokinetic; it’s a jazz based phrase library.

[@helenlynch3333]

Christopher Siu thank youuuu! 🙏🏻

[@filips3987]

Hi Christopher, thank you very much for this video, it's really informative and helpful as recently I've been thinking about getting an orchestral library and possibly the OT berlin series. I write more and more cinematic music, I also wanted to try making the type of "epic trailer" music and even though I know that you've said at the end of the video, that for trailers metropolis may be a better option, is it possible to achieve that strong aggresive sound from berlin series as well? I'm really looking for a versatile library, but I've read on VI-control some opinions like the brass isn't strong enough in berlin brass, and so I'm scared that it may not suit all of my needs. I'm also considering other libraries, but unfortunately I'm not experienced in mixing different libraries, so my first thought was to go with one company like OT. And one more thing, how long does it take to program the berlin series? I mean, of course it's much harder to do than with ensemble patches from, and surely takes more time, but is it hard to make them sound realistic? What do you think, could you advise me something? Best regards!

[@ChristopherSiu]

Hi Filip, my pleasure! If I had to characterize the Berlin series in two words, they would be 'classy' and 'soothing'. Therefore, I don't think the libraries are what I would call aggressive, especially in the brass (except some of the shorts). For that stuff I would definitely go with the Ark series. A company like Cinesamples, however, has a larger dynamic range within their libraries, and can definitely go aggressive if needed.

[@filips3987]

@@ChristopherSiu Thanks for answering! And what do you think about CSB? I saw that you've made a review of this library, but do you generally think that it's versatile enough to use it in subtle soundtracks as well as in more intense trailer music, or is something like Cinebrass from Cinesamples that you've mentioned a better option? And also, do you think that it'll be difficult to achieve a realistic sound while using together libraries like CSB with some stuff from Berlin series (sadly I don't have any experience in mixing different libraries, so I have no idea how hard it can be)? One more question (sorry if I ask too much, but I really care about making the right decision when purchasing these libraries, and I would like to know your opinion, since you are far more experienced in this than me), I'm considering purchasing CSS, as I heard many good things about it, and I like its sound, however Berlin strings seems great too, which one do you find more all-round in terms of using it in different styles and dynamics?

[@ChristopherSiu]

@@filips3987 I find mixing Berlin with CS libraries is very easy, as the rooms sound quite similar. My current string workhorse is CSS, as it's very playable, takes up much less CPU, and sounds great.

[@conoroboyle1175]

Hi Christopher, can I ask how you have the Orchestral tools libraries in Kontakt player? Cheers C

[@cachelesssociety5187]

Would someone have an opinion on Berlin Strings vs Performance Samples String Ensembles & Vista? I think the workflow looks pretty cool with Performance Samples products. Even with this OT sale I still can't make up my mind.

[@pangoweb]

I don't know how silly it will sound, but if you had to advise to get only one of the Berlin sections at a time, what would be the order in terms of highest difference of quality between Berlin and an "average" mid-priced other company (very subjective indeed...)? I know it depends on one's particular need, but i was wondering cause i usually have more difficulties to make brass section sound "realistic" with other libraries, but at the same time the woodwinds here sound to me awesome, even more than the others... I'm torn :) If i win some lottery the question will be obsolete though. Thanks for your awesome videos!

[@ChristopherSiu]

Interesting question! Let me see: 1. Winds - currently best on the market as far as I’m concerned 2. Strings - very flexible, great tone, tons of arcs 3. Brass - love the sound, individually recorded, only up to mf for legatos 4. Percussion - very solid, but I use Cineperc mainly atm and only use BP for extras

[@pangoweb]

@@ChristopherSiu Thanks a lot!

[@dafingaz]

Nice!

[@ChristopherSiu]

Cheers Marcus!

[@fromthecastle4486]

Hey Christopher what is the term called when you have brass and strings rising during a tension scene

[@ChristopherSiu]

Any sort of riser is traditionally called a crescendo in classical music.

[@fromthecastle4486]

@@ChristopherSiu Thank you!

[@OwenMcFarland1]

Does Orchestral Tools do these sales every year (the black Friday one) or is it just this once?

[@ChristopherSiu]

They have done a sale/year for the past couple of years I believe, but each one is slightly different. I think this sale is a lead in to porting the libraries over to SINE, so this might be the last chance to get them at 50% off before then.

[@OwenMcFarland1]

@@ChristopherSiu Oh okay thanks for the tip! Really appreciated the in-depth video!

[@ChristopherSiu]

You got it Owen!

[@utubewillyman]

It looks like Berlin Orchestra is currently EUR 649 as a result of a 23% off sale from a list price of EUR 849. It includes strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion. I'm wondering if I should wait for a November sale that might give me a better price. Any thoughts? I don't know their pricing history--has anyone seen this cheaper than EUR 649?

[@ChristopherSiu]

Can't hurt to wait!

[@utubewillyman]

@@ChristopherSiu Yeah, that's my inclination. Thanks for your input, and for the great review.

[@ChristopherSiu]

My pleasure!

[@yeppy013]

Do they still offer the kontakt version or available only via their sine player?

[@ChristopherSiu]

With the current BF sale they still offer the Kontakt version I believe.

[@yeppy013]

@@ChristopherSiu Do you prefer the kontakt over their sine player?

[@AdamOctorachmadi]

I like Berlin Series over Spitfire Chamber, Studio and Symphonic series combined. but the to someone who dont have music background, its very overwhelming seeing al the articulations and all the expansions.. like whats for what 🤣

[@Notmehimorthem]

What is not said is that you need to buy extras to get the full pallete of instruments for each section

[@-Meric-]

Most libraries don't include the instruments anyway because less people use them. There's no point in paying extra for a large library that you may not use everything for. I don't think the video showed any expansions either, just the main

[@now_im_here3661]

I bought the woodwinds last night. Damn they sound great. It may be just me, but I think I like Orchestral Tools over spitfire, altho I do love some of spitfires libraries (like Olafur Arnolds, which I have all of) .

[@ChristopherSiu]

Agreed. I mean I don’t have any (paid) spitfire libs so I can’t compare, but hey

[@now_im_here3661]

@@ChristopherSiu so I just got your guide... But I didn't see any recommendations for solo strings (quartet) do you have any recommendations there?

[@ChristopherSiu]

Good idea, I’ll add that into the next update. I use CSSS at the moment for exposed legato lines, but Tina Guo has a gorgeous tone and legato as well.

[@now_im_here3661]

@@ChristopherSiu 8dios new quartet studio series does look pretty great. Tons of articulations. I think 70 or 90 range.

[@pangoweb]

I've always heard very good things about embertone solo strings too

[@rossycomposing4098]

Is it discontinued? I cant find it on their website.

[@ChristopherSiu]

Here you go, you can find them all here: www.orchestraltools.com/store/products

[@Meat-Puppet]

Who puts Cinebench on their dock?

[@ChristopherSiu]

Da heck is that

[@Meat-Puppet]

@@ChristopherSiu Oh then maybe it's not Cinebench lol it looks like the icon

[@ericalexander5172]

PLEASE BRING BACK THE FREE SAMPLE LIBRARY SENPAI

[@MiloMcCarthyMusic]

How tf can you afford all these damn libraries your so lucky

[@Meat-Puppet]

You shouldn't have told me these are 50% off my wallet is screaming right now

[@ChristopherSiu]

I’m sorry 🤣

[@XiyuYang]

Even after discount they’re still way above my budget...I think unless you already make a living from creating music, purchases like this are hardly justified

[@ChristopherSiu]

Not cheap, to be sure!

[@justinbeamon6624]

The fact they call that FF in the horns is pretty embarrassing in my opinion. If you played a FF like that in a real orchestra you'd get kicked out lollllll.

[@JairusC]

This entire library, imo, is the orchestral standard for VSTs. I'm *totally* not biased. Ahahaha. Edit: I am totally biased, to clarify.

[@ChristopherSiu]

😂

[@biglipzit]

Ya that cello legato is an absolute deal breaker. Terrible.